What I Am Learning About Writing, Installment #2, by R. Clint Peters
- R. Clint Peters, Author
- Oct 28, 2013
- 3 min read
As I reported in Installment #1, an author friend of mine agreed to review a re-write of the first book I wrote. Initially titled The Pendergast Prerogatives, it has been re-titled to Prerogatives, a Pendergast Brothers novel. Why did I change the title? Because I intend to re-write the other three novels in the series and I do not want the final edits (and eventual publications) to be associated with ones that have been previously published. New title, new plot, new characters, new everything. Just plain new.
In addition to the review, my author friend included more suggestions for writing. Among the suggestions were three books that needed to be read. While I waited for my local library to get the books, I went looking on the Internet, specifically Amazon, for free books to help authors. One of those books is the subject of today’s blog.
The book I accidently discovered was Three Great Techniques for Plotting your Novel or Screenplay by Nick Daws. It’s not a big book, but it will make a big impact on my writing.
Mr. Daws suggests a writer have his main character follow what is called the Hero’s Journey. It is based on the theory that all works of fiction are journeys. (Additional information is available in The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler)
The hero’s journey takes places as follows:
Ordinary life
Call to adventure
Refusal of the call
Meeting with the mentor
Crossing the first threshold
Test, allies, enemies
Approach to the inmost cae
Supreme ordeal
Reward
10. The road back
11. Resurrection
12. Return to Elixir
The example used was the movie Star Wars. If you don’t remember the movie, here’s a little of what the writer illustrated:
1. Ordinary life – Luke is living with his foster parents
2. Call to Adventure – R2D2 delivers a message from Princess Leia
3. Refusal of the Call – Luke decides he can’t leave the farm
4. Meeting with the Mentor – Luke meets Obi-Wan Kenobi
5. Crossing the First Threshold – Luke returns home to find his foster parents murdered
I am sure most Star Wars lovers can recount 6-12 in their sleep, so I am not going to go into those details.
M. Daws doesn’t advocate a strict adherence to the formula, but does suggest each author has, with the hero’s journey, a ready-made structure which can help to develop the plot for his or her novel.
When I looked at Prerogatives from the perspective of the hero’s journey, I was actually amazed that the novel followed many of the structure of the hero’s journey. I might have to tweak the story a little, but not much. Of course, I have only revisited the first fifty pages. The next one hundred and seventy-five pages may have my hero falling off the edge of the world.
Mr. Haws suggests eleven questions to see if the hero of the reader’s novel might fit the hero’s journey. I have successfully answered all eleven questions. Did I accidently re-write Star Wars? Nah, I don’t have a seven foot, hairy animal that only grunts.
Mr. Haws also points out that the hero’s journey incorporates the elements of the four C’s of fiction writing: CHARACTER, CONFLICT, CRISIS, and CHANGE. Since my focus in this issue of the blog is on the hero’s journey, I will let the readers of the blog research the 4 C’s for themselves.
If any of the readers of The Book Reviewers & Authors Club blog would like to learn more about the 4 C’s and the Hero’s Journey, it is available as a free download at www.mywritingblog.com when you sign up for Mr. Daws’ E-Writer Update Service.
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